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Thread: How many season for shell jacket

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
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    How many season for shell jacket

    My current shell started falling apart after 3season.

    Usually it is zippers giving up. This one the glue starts eroding.
    Split seems, tape coming off.



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  2. #2
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    Apr 2006
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    My favorite patagucci is over twenty now and still working for me

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    How many season for shell jacket

    Ready for the story?

    I had a Marmot shell I thought would last me twenty years. That’s why I bought it.

    Painter boss bought a new truck. I said— I want a hummer because it will last one hundred years.

    Yeah— but then you can not buy any new trucks. Buying new trucks is fun.

    Same is true with shells. New gear is fun.

    Fifteen years ago my wife put my marmot shell into an industrial dryer and melted it into a basketball.

    My reaction— At least now I get to buy a new shell.

    Fuck longevity. Buy cool shit. Replace.


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  4. #4
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    Apr 2007
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    That said— I still have the same gore dryloft sleeping bag from twenty five years ago.

    Point now being— weigh need for longevity vs satisfaction of buying new shit.


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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
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    3,282

    How many season for shell jacket

    Third note.

    Montbell is the modern equivalent to Marmot/Mountain Hardware of yesteryear. And it’s not eight hundred dollars.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    430
    Twat, get some aquaseal / aquasure glue, read xxx-er invaluable guide on how to fix your own fucking outwear (not sure exactly how the thread is called) and get to work. xxx-er deserve hall of fame status for that alone. I got so many more years out of some of my favourite gear with that. Not being sarcastic, I always have a tube in the freezer now.
    I'm sure he'll be along any minute now himself.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    430
    For zips, I ask the kind lady in the salurner Strasse between the barbers and the vape shop if she can fix it. I think there's also a repair shop in the old town somewhere, though never been.

    I make an effort to not use any of the shell stuff outside of skiing/rodeln/hiking. I try not to wear it around town, pubs afterwards etc. So only the activities they're ment for. This seems to have helped my burton cyclic jacket survive for 5 years without too much wear and tear.

  8. #8
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    For zippers. if one gives up. I sew the pocket tight. And live with one less.
    Never had the main zipper give up so far.
    My last shell the material is see through at the shoulders where the backpack was sitting.
    I try to keep it as long as possible. And only use it on the mountain and groceries shopping after the outings!

    Lacking on the apres lately! Saturdays mtn rave in seefeld was nice tough!


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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2025
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    4
    A good shell can last 3-10+ years, depending on use and care. Should be kept clean and fix small issues early to make it last fr.

  10. #10
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    Sep 2006
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    Rossland BC
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    My Arc’teryx Beta AR is nearing the end of it’s 5th season. It probably gets 100 days of use per year, mostly lift serviced skiing and occasionally as rainwear. It’s showing signs of abrasion (especially around the collar), one of the pit zips blew out (caught on a tree and which I’ve sewn closed) and I’ve had to Aqua Seal a couple of small tears (trees again). I wash (Tech Wash) and re DWR (TX Direct) it every Spring, and it’s still keeping my dry and comfortable in all conditions. If I was still a dirtbag I’d probably get another 5 years out of it as my primary shell, but I’m planning to buy another identical jacket (this is the last season for the original Goretex Pro) and relegate this one to trail building and chainsawing (where gear goes to die). I’ve had cheaper jackets that haven’t lasted a couple of years. Buying quality is cheaper over the long haul.

  11. #11
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    Mar 2006
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    Missoula, MT
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    I feel like a good 3 layer should last a lot longer than 3 seasons, unless those seasons are like 50+ days of bush whacking.
    No longer stuck.

    Quote Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn View Post
    Just an uneducated guess.

  12. #12
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    Aug 2013
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    shadow of HS butte
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    How many season for shell jacket

    Still wearing my flylow quantum from 2014 and chemicals from 2013


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  13. #13
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    Dec 2009
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    430
    Get some big patches of gore tex repair material in the right colour and glue them onto the shoulders. If you are somewhat diy talented, unlike me, you can get it so it looks like it's ment to be there.
    But you're right, 3 seasons of rucksack wear shouldn't really be that bad. I can understand why you're pissed. You shouldn't really have to be patching shit up after 3 years.

  14. #14
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    Mar 2008
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    northern BC
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    read xxx-er invaluable guide on how to fix your own fucking outwear (not sure exactly how the thread is called) and get to work. xxx-er deserve hall of fame status for that alone quote unquote

    I have an original beta that has to be close to 30 yrs with a lot of those AQS fixes so one cna not send in a pice slathered with AQS so one learns to fix shit with AQS





    the aqs is waterproof but the gortex is not but Gortex never was so if you want waterproof buy something made of rubber





    IME what happens in real life is people want to give you grief over having > 33, 000 posts answering questions/ giving tips & suggestions ect
    Last edited by XXX-er; 03-10-2025 at 02:52 PM.
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
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    55
    Montbell sizing can be tough - there is Japanese sizing and Western sizing, make sure you buy Western sizing. I use it for backpacking, their UL stuff is bomb.

    Not what I wear for skiing or where Im gonna beat up my stuff, but YMMV. IMO you should def get more than 3 seasons out of a shell.

  16. #16
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    Oct 2011
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    But your next shell from MiCol. Im on year [emoji637][emoji638] with the first one I bought. Small rip in one arm from thrashing through a spruce thicket. Fixed with a goretex patch and the thing won’t quit. Ive bought replacements but I havent really used them. At this rate, I will never use the [emoji639]rd one I bought because I will be dead first.


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  17. #17
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    Mar 2022
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    1,363
    Zippers are pretty repairable/replaceable. Good manufacturers like Patagonia should be willing to do it for you, but outdoor gear repair people (or even just a local seamstress) can fix most issues. I've had a main zipper completely replaced before and you'd never know except it was different color than stock.

    3 seasons doesn't seem like nearly enough unless you are really hard on your gear though. Are we talking a lightweight shell that frequently gets stuffed tightly into a pack? Otherwise I'd be pestering the warranty department until they replace--seams shouldn't be opening up after 3 seasons, nor should zippers be failing outside of true physical damage.

  18. #18
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    Mar 2008
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    northern BC
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    I sent my Beta in to the dead bird people and they replaced the zip gratus, other stuff they have just issued a credit so i am a dead bird fanboi If i send stuff in via local dealer when they have a warranty beef I think it is more likley to be rushed thru warrantydept or show up at the headquarters in north Vangroovy there have been no shipping charges eva
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  19. #19
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    Dec 2007
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    Hell Track
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    Quote Originally Posted by MyNameIsAugustWest View Post
    But your next shell from MiCol. Im on year [emoji637][emoji638] with the first one I bought. Small rip in one arm from thrashing through a spruce thicket. Fixed with a goretex patch and the thing won’t quit. Ive bought replacements but I havent really used them. At this rate, I will never use the [emoji639]rd one I bought because I will be dead first.


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    Is he still making stuff? Every product on the website currently shows sold out.

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  20. #20
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    Mar 2008
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    1,609
    My original Freeride Systems jacket was on something like yr 5 when my house burned down. At that time I was probably wearing it 40-50 days/yr. Faded but functional. They generously sent a replacement for my fire-destroyed jacket free of charge. The replacement jacket is on season 3, maybe 120 days. I only wear it for ski touring. The inner liner is starting to wear through in many places, but it's still keeping me dry.

  21. #21
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    Apr 2006
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    Spokane/Schweitzer
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    Ive been going to The North Face website under the Renewed tab. Ive bought four shells through that, and pants, over the past few years. Killer deals and theyre essentially brand new. You have to shop around and check it out every so often since the inventory is what it is at any given time. The shells I have vary from this year to about six years old and all are holding up well. I had one that had a bad seam when I got it but it was such a deal that I kept it and had a local Vietnamese tailor fix it. He charged me ten dollars. I paid him twenty because he did such a nice job and it was still a killer deal.

  22. #22
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    Nov 2006
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    kinda halfway twixt NH & CO
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    What MNIAW said x two

    (buy FRS when available)

    Antero two lasts forever, A two plus probably a long time.


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